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Share A quiet coast doesn’t mean a calm season: What 2026 holds for hurricane-prone businesses June 25, 2026 The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season told two very different stories. On one hand, it was busy and intense: 13 named storms, 5 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes, with three storms — Erin, Humberto, and Melissa — reaching Category 5 strength. On the other hand, something rare happened. For the first time in a decade, no hurricane made landfall on the mainland United States. That’s a welcome break after some intensely destructive storms, but for commercial property stakeholders in hurricane-prone regions, it would be a mistake to read the 2025 numbers as a signal to relax. Powerful storms still churned just offshore and swells collapsed homes along the North Carolina Outer Banks. The U.S. simply got lucky with weather patterns and steering currents. Here’s what you need to know heading into the 2026 season, which runs from June and ends in November. What the 2026 forecast says Colorado State University’s updated June 2026 outlook calls for a below-normal season. The team forecasts: 11 named storms (vs. the 1991–2020 average of 14.4) 5 hurricanes (vs. 7.2) 2 major hurricanes (vs. 3.2) An Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) of 70 (vs. 123) The main driver is the likely arrival of El Niño conditions, which tend to increase vertical wind shear across the Atlantic. Higher wind shear makes it harder for storms to organize and strengthen. Cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures across parts of the tropical Atlantic add to the case for a calmer year. What this means: A below-normal forecast is good news, but it isn’t a guarantee. As CSU reminds coastal residents every year, it only takes one landfalling hurricane to make the season costly for businesses. A “quiet” year on paper can still be catastrophic. Why hurricane-state businesses stay on high alert Property stakeholders in hurricane-risk states already understand this tension, and recent data backs it up. In Nationwide’s commercial lines protection survey, 70% of stakeholders in hurricane-risk states named severe weather and natural disasters as a top concern—well above the national average. Their perceived risks reflect where they live and work: 90% consider themselves at risk from a tropical storm or hurricane 78% feel at risk from damaging winds 76% feel at risk from flooding 76% feel at risk from tornadoes These aren’t abstract worries. They map directly to the kinds of losses that can interrupt business. When asked about their biggest concerns from severe weather, hurricane-state stakeholders pointed to: Business interruption (52%) Water intrusion and flood damage (41%) Structural damage (39%) Broken windows (39%) Roof damage (33%) What this means: The threats that keep hurricane-state owners up at night are the ones that disrupt revenue—closed doors, soaked inventory, and a building envelope breached by wind and water. A preparedness plan should target these failure points first. How hurricane-state owners are hardening their properties Awareness is one thing. Action is another—and hurricane-state property stakeholders are leading the way. Many have already invested in physical resilience measures: 73% have backup generators to keep critical systems running through outages 60% have installed impact-resilient doors, windows, or flashing 54% have storm-resistant roofing, such as thicker sheathing and improved flashing 45% have drainage systems to manage water intrusion These steps reflect a practical truth: the most damaging hurricane losses often start with a single point of failure. A breached window lets wind pressurize the interior and lift the roof. A clogged or absent drainage system turns heavy rain into standing water. Hardening these vulnerabilities pays off whether or not a storm makes landfall in any given year. What this means: Having qualified personnel inspect a property’s wind and water defenses such as inspecting the roofline, openings, and drainage can help protect against the losses businesses can least afford. Keep coverages in mind Physical resilience is only half the equation. The other half is making sure insurance coverage is adequate and evolves with business needs. Nationally, only 2 in 5 property stakeholders feel their current coverage provides full protection against severe weather disasters, according to our survey results. That gap matters most when a storm hits and an owner discovers that damage, business interruption, or a specific peril wasn’t fully covered. Among owners who suffered damage in the past five years, survey results showed many found only some of it was covered by their policy. Cost pressures make this worse. More than half of stakeholders responding to the survey said they’d at least consider insuring less of their property to cut costs—a 13-point jump from the prior year. Trimming coverage to save on premiums can feel reasonable in a quiet year. It can be financially devastating in a year with a landfall. What this means: Before peak hurricane season arrives in August and September, confirm aspects such as limits, deductibles, flood coverage, and business interruption provisions that reflect actual exposure and current rebuilding costs—not last year’s assumptions. Pre-season action plan Here’s a practical checklist for property stakeholders to work through before the season ramps up: Inspect building envelope: Check the roof, windows, doors, and flashing. Repair weak points and consider impact-resilient upgrades where feasible. Test backup power and drainage: Make sure generators run, fuel is stocked, and drainage systems are clear and functioning. Update the business continuity plan: Business owners should document how they’ll keep operating—or recover quickly—if they lose power, access, or part of their facility. Identify critical functions and backup vendors. Review coverages: Confirm coverage for wind, flood, and business interruption. Close any gaps before a storm exposes them. Brief the team: Business owners should make sure key staff know the plan, their roles, and the chain of communication when a storm approaches. The bottom line Taking proactive measures to prepare for severe weather can help mitigate damage and return to operations sooner. Life safety is a principal concern during the storm, but forward thinking can help create a more protected environment. Actions such as reinforcing large doors, installing storm shutters over windows, upgrading to more resilient roofing material, and pruning tree limbs away from buildings can make a difference if tropical weather strikes. The Nationwide Risk Management and Client Services team has expertise and resources that can help business owners address specific risks they face from tropical storms and hurricanes. Business continuity plans can be a good starting point, in addition to developing strategies to protect property. Nationwide has also partnered with IBHS to offer safety information. Resources Protect your business during hurricane season Selecting windows to withstand a hurricane High wind checklist for single-ply membrane roof covers High wind checklist for concrete buildings High wind checklist for large commercial doors High wind checklist for metal edge flashing The 2025 season was a reminder that the Atlantic can produce extraordinary storms even in a year the U.S. mainland is spared. The 2026 forecast leans calmer, but “below-normal” has never meant “no risk.” It still only takes one landfall to define your year. Share
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